Picture frame structure



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March 12, 1963 L. SPISELMAN 3,080,603

PICTURE FRAME STRUCTURE Filed May 27, 1959 INVENTOR.

LEONARD SPISELMAN BY 16mm United States Patent Ofitice 3,080,603Patented Mar. 12, 1963 3,080,603 PICTURE FRAME STRUCTURE LeonardSpiselman, Roosevelt, N.Y., assignor to Columbia Metal Frame Co.,Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed May 27, I959, Ser. No. 816,240 I Giaim. (El. 1619I)This invention relates to an improved picture frame easel, and, inparticular, to a hinge for such easel having automatic stop means formaintaining an easel leg at a fixed angle with respect to the back of apicture frame.

Picture frames are commonly used as a decorative accessory on a table ordesk. To satisfy the requirements of such applications, it is essentialthat the construction be attractive and compact.

From a decorative standpoint, as well as from consideration of cost, itis preferred to employ light gage materials in the construction of theframe and easel components, however, it will be appreciated that this isinconsistent vvith the requirements for rigidity.

Briefly stated, this invention provides a picture frame of the easeltype with a novel concealed hinge for attaching a leg member to theeasel back. The hinge is formed of thin sheet metal and is characterizedby simplicity and economy of parts. There is provided improved fasteningmeans integrally formed with the hinge thereby avoiding the need forseparate fastening rivets.

One feature of this invention is the provision of a structure whichpermits of the use of lighter gages of materials for the hinge memberand for the easel leg than heretofore generally employed.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of an easel which maybe compactly folded to permit wall mounting of the frame.

The structure of this invention, as will be explained hereinafter ingreater detail, eliminates the warpage and twisting of easel legs commonto easel type picture frames, when light gage cardboard is employed forthe leg member. Other features of this invention include the provisionof a strong hinge formed of a light gage material which is inexpensiveto manufacture and which may be easily assembled to the other componentsof a picture frame assembly.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a concealablehinge for an easel leg member.

It is a particular object to provide a picture frame having a hingedeasel leg wherein the hinge is concealed from view.

An object of this invention is to provide a rigid easel type pictureframe employing light gage members.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a hinge memberhaving integral fastening means.

A different feature of this invention is the provision of an improvedfastening means.

An important feature of the present invention is that a positive stop isprovided by presenting a broad face to engage the edge of a moving hingeportion.

Still other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent asreference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein my invention isillustrated, and in which,

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a picture frame.

FIGURE 2 is a rear View, in perspective, of the picture frame of FIGURE1.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along lines 3--3 of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a sheet metal hinge fixed member during anintermediate step of manufacture.

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of the hinge of this invention with aportion shown partially broken away so as to exposed a pintle member.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a portion of a sheet metal hinge leg memberduring an intermediate step of manufacture.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a picture frame backshowing a portion of the hinge and easel leg attached thereto.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the picture frame showingthe easel in an open position.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary section taken along line 99 of FIGURE 7showing the spreading of the prongs in the cardboard members.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-3, there is shown a picture frame 10comprising a frame member portion 12 into which there is fitted a glass14, picture 16, and a cardboard easel back 18. The relationship of thecited members may be seen in the sectional view of FIGURE 3. The members14, 16, and 18 are inserted through an opening provided in the bottom offrame 12. Attached to the back 18 there is provided an easel leg 20which permits positioning of the frame either in a vertical orhorizontal position on a table top 22 (shown in phantom). Alternativepositioning is accomplished by virtue of the angie of mounting and theprovision of two end faces 23 and 25 parallel to the intersecting wallsof the frame 12. The easel leg 20 is supported from back 18 by means ofa hinge 24 composed of two portions 26 and 28, which will be describedmore fully hereinafter.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown a plan view of member 26 at an intermediatestep in the process of manufacture. This member is composed of a lightgauge metal plate. A thickness of but 0.015 has been found adequate formember 26. The member is die stamped and, by means of a forming die, areinforcing rib 29' is formed and tab 32 is rolled over to form a pintle33 as shown in the perspective view of FIGURE 5. The area of member 26into which rib 29' is formed is outlined in phantom in FIGURE 4. Amember 28 is then assembled to mem ber 26 by means of a conventionalforming operation to form hinge 24.

The configuration, of the end portion of member 28, before the formingstep, is shown in FIGURE 6. It will be noted that step portion 35 formsa tongue which slips into the slot 27 located in member 26.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, the frame back is provided with a recessadapted to receive the outer leaf or barrel 34. The easel leg 20 isattached to member 28.

It Will be noted that, in both the opened and closed positions of easelleg 20, the hinge 24 is completely concealed from view.

In FIGURES 4 and 6, prongs 36 and 38 are shown fiat. A conventionalforming die is employed to bend the prongs as shown in FIGURE 5 andprepare the hinge for insertion into the cardboard easel back 10 andeasel leg 20. Assembly is accomplished by placing hinge member 24 injuxtaposition with leg member 20 and back member 10 in a press andforcing the prongs into the cardboard members.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 and FIGURE 9, it will be noted that whileprongs 38 have completely penetrated the easel leg member 20 they arenot exposed through the other side of the member. It would beobjectionable to have the prongs extend through, as with respect to theeasel leg they would destroy the decorative effect. Frequently the easelleg and easel back members are covered with a fine flocking or velourfinish for decorative purposes.

If the prongs 36; extend beyond the back 10, they would cut into thepicture 16 unless a protective mat is inserted. Therefore, they are madesufiiciently long so as to be turned back by the platen of the press andsimultaneously deform the resilient cardboard so as to recess the prong.

3. For the back member a cardboard having a thickness of about 0.050"has been found satisfactory. For the easel leg 20 a thickness of but0.060" has proved satisfactory when employed with the hinge of thisinvention. In the past easel members usually employed stock at least0.090 thick.

The prongs are provided with a rib 39 to increase their strength andpermit the use of light stock for the hinge. In order to moresatisfactorily drive the prongs into a thin cardboard member Withoutdamage to the cardboard, it has been found advantageous to employ abifurcated prong and provide a rib at the juncture of the two portions.Surprisingly, a blunt edge has been found preferable to a sharp point.

Member 28 is provided with a reinforcing rib 45 which may extend fromeither face of the member. The rib stilfens the relatively light gagesheet metal hinge member preventing it from bending under load. It is tobe noted that the elongated hinge member 28 prevents the thin cardboardeasel leg 20 from bending under the load of the picture frame when theeasel leg is extended.

It is preferred that the length of member 28 be at least 65% of thelength of the easel leg 20.

An important advantage of this invention is that when the easel leg isopened, edge 43 of member 34 seats firmly against the fiat face ofmember as. This feature provides an important advantage over prior artdevices which rely on the meeting of two relatively thin surfaces. Thus,the present invention may use thinner stock and permits greatermanufacturing tolerance and thereby lower cost than for theaforementioned prior art devices.

What is claimed is:

In a picture frame structure a concealed hinge including in combination:

(a) a first hinge member having a barrel and an elongated body portionintegral with and tangential to said barrel; said barrel comprising astop portion and a narrower portion extending therefrom;

(b) a picture frame leg member attached to said elongated body portion;

(c) a second hinge member formed with a pintle and a slot adjacent tosaid pintle, the barrel of said first hinge member being adapted toencircle said pintle and rotate relative thereto, with the narrowerportion of said barrel adapted to extend through the slot adjacent tosaid pintle, when the first and second hinge members are broughttogether in an operative association; the portions of said second hingemember adjacent to said slot comprising a stop means adapted tocooperate with the stop portion of the barrel on said first hinge memberand said portions together comprising means adapted to restrain saidrotation whereby said first and second hinge mem bers are constrained toseparate to not more than an acute angle and said rotation is preventedbeyond the point where said stop portion on said barrel abuts saidportions adjacent to the slot of the second hinge member; and a (d) apicture frame back member provided with a recess, said second hingemember being attached to said frame back, the pintle of said secondhinge member and the barrel of said first hinge member being disposed insaid recess, the upper end of said leg member terminating adjacent tothe upper edge of said recess in said picture frame back member wherebysaid barrel and said recess are entirely concealed by said leg member.

References titted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS880,757 Rugg Mar. 3, 1908 1,092,136 Burchess Apr. 7, 1914 1,162,237Hipolito Nov. 30, 1915 1,316,579 Kehoe Sept. 23, 1919 2,712,915 Cohen eta1 July 12, 1955 2,857,618 Jordan Oct. 28, 1958 2,932,056 Crosswell Apr.12, 1960 rear

